A tragic plane crash off the coast of Roatan Island, Honduras, has claimed twelve lives, including celebrated Garifuna musician Aurelio Martinez. The Lanhsa Airlines flight went down shortly after takeoff on Monday, prompting an urgent response from national authorities and rescue teams.
According to the Honduran transport ministry, the aircraft was carrying fourteen passengers and three crew members en route to La Ceiba on the mainland. Among the victims were two children, a French citizen, and a U.S. national, local police confirmed.
The crash occurred roughly one kilometer from Roatan International Airport, a popular tourist area surrounded by coral reefs. Images from the scene showed emergency teams working late into the night, using torchlight to recover bodies from the sea.
Rescue operations have faced major challenges due to poor weather conditions and limited visibility. Franklin Borjas, Roatan’s fire chief, confirmed that search and recovery efforts remain ongoing, with one person still missing as of the latest update.